Published: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 1:08 a.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Derek Ernst arrived at Quail Hollow a pauper and departs as a prince after shocking the golfing world Sunday with a sudden-death victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

The 22-year-old was as nondescript as a young PGA Tour pro gets before defeating Englishman David Lynn on the first hole of a playoff during a steady rain after finishing off a two-putt par on the 18th.

He began the week with $48,255 in career earnings before pocketing $1.21 million in his first win anywhere since a college event hosted by Arizona State just over a year ago.

“It has sunk in a little, but I'm sure in a couple of days it will be even more unbelievable than it is right now,” said Ernst, who joined Lynn in carding a final-round 70 to force the playoff at 8 under. Phil Mickelson bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 to lose the lead and fall into solo third at 7 under after a final-round 73.

Ernst stuck his final approach of regulation to four feet from 192 yards to card only the fourth birdie of the day at No. 18 and get into the playoff. The playoff took place back on the 18th where he landed a 3-iron to 15 feet and two-putted. Lynn found the edge of the left-side creek and then the front-green bunker before chipping out to the back rough in sudden death.

Ernst had planned on competing at this week's Web.com Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am in the Upstate before his victory earned him a spot in The Players Championship.

The UNLV product, ranked only No. 1,207 in the world, was making just his ninth PGA Tour start after earning his status right out of college at December's Qualifying School. He'd made only three cuts and his best finish was last week's tie for 47th in New Orleans after which he was en route in a rental car to Athens, Ga., to play in a Web.com Tour event when he got the call Monday that he'd gotten into the Wells Fargo as a fourth alternate.

“This feeling is just unbelievable right now,” Ernst said. “Just at the beginning of the week not even knowing I was going to be in the field and then some people dropped out so I got in. All week long my swing felt good and my mental game was good. The big thing was what I said all week long is that I got out of my own way and it paid off for now.”

Getting out of his own way had become a personal mantra since he first popped up on the radar with a five-way share of the first-round lead.

“It just means sticking to the process and not thinking about the results. Point A for me is every shot is a new shot, a new opportunity.”

Sunday's round began at 6:45 a.m. in threesomes off both tees with the threat of inclement weather greatest in the afternoon. Mickelson entered the final round tied at the top with Nick Watney at 8 under and 17 others within four shots.

The venue is one of Mickelson's favorites and while he's had several strong finishes he's never won at Quail Hollow. It was his to lose after he tapped in for birdie at the 14th to go to 9 under with a one-shot advantage over Ryan Moore. Mickelson missed a 12-foot birdie try on the 15th before missing par tries of seven feet on the 16th and nine feet on the 17th to seal his fate.

With Ernst and Lynn both on the practice green waiting to see if a third would join them for overtime, Mickelson's 23-foot birdie try from the fringe rolled astray on the last.

“I'm pretty bummed out,” Mickelson said. “I thought that this was one I had in control. If I could've gotten that bunker shot up-and-down on 15 I would have had a two-shot lead heading to those final three holes. There is just no excuse (to make consecutive bogeys). It wasn't easy, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.”

The 29-year-old Lynn is playing his first PGA Tour season after bursting onto the scene with a solo second to Rory McIlroy last year at the PGA Championship on Kiawah Island. He began Sunday four back of the lead in a six-way tie for fourth. Lynn turned even on the day before playing the last nine holes of regulation without a bogey while adding birdies at Nos. 14 and 16, chipping in from 68 feet on the latter.

“I know I'm pretty good in tough conditions and I'm a bit of a grinder,” Lynn said. “A runner-up finish is a good finish and you take heart from losing a playoff. It's all a confidence building so it puts me in good standing for the rest of the year.”

When asked what he knew about Ernst prior to this week, Lynn said, “I'd never heard of him. He played super so every credit to him.”

Ernst appeared about as humble as an instant-millionaire gets in acknowledging he was enjoying the moment so much that it helped ease any nerves.

“If you're not enjoying it, you're not going to win I don't think,” he said. “Having fun is the most important part out here. I live to have fun.”

It was apparent he wasn't ready for the fun to end when asked his reaction to winning a tournament that in a short existence counted the likes of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and McIlroy among past champions.

“I want to go play with them, play with them like this moment, like right now.”

<p>CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Derek Ernst arrived at Quail Hollow a pauper and departs as a prince after shocking the golfing world Sunday with a sudden-death victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.</p><p>The 22-year-old was as nondescript as a young PGA Tour pro gets before defeating Englishman David Lynn on the first hole of a playoff during a steady rain after finishing off a two-putt par on the 18th.</p><p>He began the week with $48,255 in career earnings before pocketing $1.21 million in his first win anywhere since a college event hosted by Arizona State just over a year ago.</p><p>“It has sunk in a little, but I'm sure in a couple of days it will be even more unbelievable than it is right now,” said Ernst, who joined Lynn in carding a final-round 70 to force the playoff at 8 under. Phil Mickelson bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 to lose the lead and fall into solo third at 7 under after a final-round 73.</p><p>Ernst stuck his final approach of regulation to four feet from 192 yards to card only the fourth birdie of the day at No. 18 and get into the playoff. The playoff took place back on the 18th where he landed a 3-iron to 15 feet and two-putted. Lynn found the edge of the left-side creek and then the front-green bunker before chipping out to the back rough in sudden death.</p><p>Ernst had planned on competing at this week's Web.com Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am in the Upstate before his victory earned him a spot in The Players Championship. </p><p>The UNLV product, ranked only No. 1,207 in the world, was making just his ninth PGA Tour start after earning his status right out of college at December's Qualifying School. He'd made only three cuts and his best finish was last week's tie for 47th in New Orleans after which he was en route in a rental car to Athens, Ga., to play in a Web.com Tour event when he got the call Monday that he'd gotten into the Wells Fargo as a fourth alternate.</p><p>“This feeling is just unbelievable right now,” Ernst said. “Just at the beginning of the week not even knowing I was going to be in the field and then some people dropped out so I got in. All week long my swing felt good and my mental game was good. The big thing was what I said all week long is that I got out of my own way and it paid off for now.”</p><p> Getting out of his own way had become a personal mantra since he first popped up on the radar with a five-way share of the first-round lead.</p><p>“It just means sticking to the process and not thinking about the results. Point A for me is every shot is a new shot, a new opportunity.”</p><p>Sunday's round began at 6:45 a.m. in threesomes off both tees with the threat of inclement weather greatest in the afternoon. Mickelson entered the final round tied at the top with Nick Watney at 8 under and 17 others within four shots.</p><p>The venue is one of Mickelson's favorites and while he's had several strong finishes he's never won at Quail Hollow. It was his to lose after he tapped in for birdie at the 14th to go to 9 under with a one-shot advantage over Ryan Moore. Mickelson missed a 12-foot birdie try on the 15th before missing par tries of seven feet on the 16th and nine feet on the 17th to seal his fate.</p><p>With Ernst and Lynn both on the practice green waiting to see if a third would join them for overtime, Mickelson's 23-foot birdie try from the fringe rolled astray on the last.</p><p>“I'm pretty bummed out,” Mickelson said. “I thought that this was one I had in control. If I could've gotten that bunker shot up-and-down on 15 I would have had a two-shot lead heading to those final three holes. There is just no excuse (to make consecutive bogeys). It wasn't easy, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.”</p><p>The 29-year-old Lynn is playing his first PGA Tour season after bursting onto the scene with a solo second to Rory McIlroy last year at the PGA Championship on Kiawah Island. He began Sunday four back of the lead in a six-way tie for fourth. Lynn turned even on the day before playing the last nine holes of regulation without a bogey while adding birdies at Nos. 14 and 16, chipping in from 68 feet on the latter.</p><p>“I know I'm pretty good in tough conditions and I'm a bit of a grinder,” Lynn said. “A runner-up finish is a good finish and you take heart from losing a playoff. It's all a confidence building so it puts me in good standing for the rest of the year.”</p><p>When asked what he knew about Ernst prior to this week, Lynn said, “I'd never heard of him. He played super so every credit to him.”</p><p>Ernst appeared about as humble as an instant-millionaire gets in acknowledging he was enjoying the moment so much that it helped ease any nerves.</p><p>“If you're not enjoying it, you're not going to win I don't think,” he said. “Having fun is the most important part out here. I live to have fun.”</p><p>It was apparent he wasn't ready for the fun to end when asked his reaction to winning a tournament that in a short existence counted the likes of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and McIlroy among past champions.</p><p>“I want to go play with them, play with them like this moment, like right now.”</p>